Golf game



March 17, 1970 R. M. coNKLlN ET A1.

GOLF GAME Filed 001'.. 24. 1966 Kf PLoTr/NG TABLE ANO CONTEOL PANEL mit5 Sheets-Sheet 1 DA TA 72 72 2 z. i m@ mi@ @l/@L mm CONTR @E w SCENE 1 1@m2/Q m/@ f LLL2$L 70] KOMM {avente/.5

@I Pay MdL-ML @WMM/wyffw March 17, i970 R. M. coNKLlN l-:TAL 3,501,152

GOLF GAME Filed 001'.. 24. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Mw a March 17, 1970R. M. coNKLlN ETAI- 3,501,152

GOLF GAME Filed Oct. 24. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'IIIHJ S62? II. 'WM f2'my ,|lll |ll.l/ i'il l El/ l i ull. mi] @f7 (/jocooooo ooolooo f/ooooooooooooo/f 70 f f cojo o/, /4//0530 @of A l mmmmmnnnmmmmD'n'nnL-JD UnitedStates Patent O 3,501,152 GOLF GAME Robert M. Conklin and Ralph E.Witucki, Muskegon,

Mich., assignors to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of DelawareFiled Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 588,856 Int. Cl. A63b 67/02 U.S. Cl.273-176 13 'Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An indoor golf gameincluding a scene projector, a screen for receiving scenes projected bythe projector, a tee spaced from the screen from which a golfer may hitballs, data acquisition means for obtaining data relative to theprobable ilight trajectory of balls hit from the tee, a computerresponsive to the data for computing the theoretical free flighttrajectory of the ball, means for displaying the trajectory to thegolfer, means for providing a map of the hole on a golf course dividedinto a plurality of discrete zones with each zone having a unique codenumber, means responsive to the computer for indicating on the map thezone in which a s hot terminates and manually operable control means forthe projector and being provided iwith unique indicia corresponding tothe code numbers of the zones so that a golfer may use the control meansfor selecting a proper scene for projection on the screen in readinessfor his next shot; and a method of playing a golf game using the aboveapparatus. In one form of the invention, spot projecting means areutilized as both the trajectory display means and the indicating meansand move the spot of light on the screen and thus on any scene projectedthereon to provide a visual simulation of a ball in flight and alsoproject a spot of light on the map to indicate the point of terminationof the ball ilight.

In recent years, the increasing number of people taking up the game ofgolf and the inability of currently existing golf courses to handle theincreased number of golfers together with the increasing cost of greenfees has caused a rise in the popularity of indoor golf games.Typically, such games permit a golfer to take a full swing at a ball todrive the latter toward a target and wherein computing means areutilized to compute the flight of the ball and provide the golfer withinformation relative to the flight of the ball so that he may play agolf course from tee to green indoors.

A number of such indoor systems have been proposed and a few have beencommercialized. In the latter categorycurrently existing commercialindoor golf games have generally failed to realistically simulate theplaying of a golf game on a natural golf course. For example, onecommercial form of a golf game fails to provide for the factor of spinon a ball and furthermore, neglects the fact that the initial directionof a shot may deviate substantially from the intended line of flight. Asa result, the golfer playing such a game immediately recognizes the lackof realism and will often refuse to patronize the game.

Other more realistic systems have been proposed, although notcommercialized, that take into account such factors as spin and initialdirection of the ball. When these factors are considered, the equipmentnecessarily becomes more complex in order that the golfer may beinformed of the degree of displacement of his shot from the intendedline of flight. When the displacement from the intended line of flightis considered, the manner in which subsequent shots are to be computednecessarily becomes more complex because of the displacement of3,501,152 Patented Mar'. 17, 1970 ICC preceding shots. While certainproposed systems provide for the displacement, the means used areextremely cornplex and are unpractical at least in an economic sense.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the invention to provide a newand improved indoor golf game system.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a golfgame that realistically simulates all of the conditions found on anoutdoor golf course while avoiding the use of extremely complexequipment that would render the game economically unpractical forcommercialization.

Another object is the provision of an indoor golf game having a screenfor receiving any one of a plurality of scenes projected by a projector,a tee from which a golfer may drive golf balls, a computer for computingthe theoretical free ight trajectory of a ball driven from the tee, amap of a hole of a golf course divided into a plurality of zones eachhaving a unique code number, a means responsive to the computer forindicating on the map the zone in which a shot terminated, manuallyoperable control means for the projector for selecting any one of theplurality of scenes for display on the screen, each of the scenescorresponding to the view of the golf hole as seen from thecorresponding one of the zones and the control means being provided withunique indicia corresponding to the code numbers so that a golfer mayuse the control means to select a proper scene in readiness for asubsequent shot by observing the point of termination on the precedingshot indicated by the indicating means.

A still further object is the provision of an indoor golf game such asthat set forth in the preceding paragraph further including a separategreen area on which a golfer may hole out in the customary manner, thegreen area being divided into a plurality of discrete zones havingunique indicia associated with each zone, and wherein somel of the codenumbers on the map corresponding to the indicia associated with thegreen area zones so that the indicating means will apprise a golfer ofthe green area zone in which he should place his ball prior to holingOut.

Yet another object is the provision of an indoor golf game such as thatset forth above wherein the tee includes means for presenting any one ofa plurality of lies to a golfer so that he may hit a ball therefrom, andmanually operable control means for the presenting means, there being acode associated with some of the map zones to indicate to a golfer thelie of the associated zone and indicia associated with the presentingmeans control means corresponding to the code on the map so that agolfer may use the presenting means control means to select a lie for asucceeding shot by observing the point of termination of the precedingshot as indicated by the indicating means.

Another object is the provision of -a golf game computing systemcomprising a means for sensing the flight characteristics of a golf ballstruck from a tee, computing means operative in response to the sensingmeans for computing the theoretical trajectory of a golf ball, a rstprojector connected to the computing means for moving a spot of light ona scene to provide a visual simulation of the trajectory, a secondprojector adapted to be connected to the computing means to project aspot of light on a map to indicate the point of termination of theflight of the golf ball and a means for determining when the flight ofthe ball has terminated and for disconnecting the first projector fromthe computing means and connecting the second projector to the computingmeans.

Yet another object is the provision. of a lmethod of playing a golf gameutilizing apparatus such as that set forth iabove which includes a mapof a golf hole having coded zones, the code corresponding to indiciaassociated with scene selecting means for a projector, the methodincluding the steps of hitting a golf ball from a tee toward the screen,observing the code number on the map of the zone encompassing theindicated point of termination of the shot and manipulating the sceneselection means to register the code number thereon.

Still another object is the provision of a method such as that set forthin the preceding paragraph including additional steps to facilitate thelocating by a golfer of a ball in an appropriate zone in a green area toenable him to hole out in the customary manner.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingspecification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor golf game made according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a map of a golf hole used in playing the golfgame;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a control panel used in the golf game;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computing system;

FIG. 5 is a schematic of a projecting device used in conjunction withthe map illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is perspective view of a plotting device at one stage in theoperation thereof;

FIG. 7 is the perspective view of the plotting device at a stage in theoperation thereof subsequent to that illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a plotting device;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken approximately along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 illustrates photographic scenes which may be used with the golfgame.

One form of an indoor golf game with which a plotting device madeaccording to the invention is ideally suited for use is illustrated inFIG. 1. An L-shaped room, generally designated 10 is divided by apartial wall 12 into a tee area 14 and a green area 1S.

The tee area 14 includes a tee generally designated 16 which preferablyis of the type disclosed in the copending application of Anderson, Ser.No. 545,411, filed Apr. 26, 1966, and assigned to the same assignee asthe instant application, the details of which are herein incorporated byreference. More specifically, the tee 16 is capable of disposing any oneof a plurality of differing lie simulating mats in a position from whicha golfer may drive a golf ball. The details of the construction of thetee 16 may be ascertained by reference to the above cited Andersonapplication.

Forwardly of the tee 16 is a screen 18 which is adapted to receiveprojected indicia representative of the scene on a golf course. One formof a projector that is particularly suited for projecting scenes on thescreen 18 is disclosed in the copending application of Pratt et al.,Ser. No. 574,218, filed Aug. 22, 1966, and assigned to the same assigneeas the instant application and to this end, the projector may beprovided with a film strip 17 (FIG. 10) bearing the images of aplurality of different scenes on a golf course. The relation of eachscene to the game will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Behind the tee 16 there is placed a plotting table and control console,generally designated 20, which, it will be seen, is used gy the golferfor determining the results of his previous shot and manipulating thecontrols for the projector and the tee 16 accordingly.

The green area includes a green 22 which is defined rby the areaenclosed by a line 24. Additionally, there is provided a bunker 26 inone corner of the portion of the room 10 form-ing the green area 15. Thebunker 26 may have sand or a sand simulating mat 27 disposed therein soas to permit sand shots to the green 22.

Around the green 22 there are placed a plurality of differing mats 28which differ from each other either in their distance from a cup 30 orin the material of which they are fabricated so as to simulate differinglies around the edge of a green. For example, one of the mats 28 maysimulate a fringe type of surface while another may simulate the wellknown frog hair.

Adjacent the sand material 27 and each of the mats 28 is acharacteristic indicia and arrow combination 32 that identifies each mat28 and is used in conjunction with the plotting device to indicate tothe golfer from which mat he should hit his next shot toward the cup 30.The indicia and arrow combinations 32 may be stenciled or otherwiseprinted on the material forming the floor surface of the green area 16.

The green 22 is marked off into a plurality of distinct zones 34 by aplurality of arcuate lines 36 that are drawn concentrically about thecup 30 at predetermined distances therefrom. Each of the lines 36 isassociated with a unique marker 38 which is used in a manner similar tothe use of the indicia and arrow combinations 32 and will be describedin greater detail hereinafter.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there will be seen one form of a golf hole mapthat may be used in playing the golf game. Of course, it will beunderstood that at least eighteen such maps are to be used in the golfgame in order to allow a golfer to play eighteen different holes. Ifdesired, additional maps may be used to give a golfer a choice ofcourses on which to play.

The map of a golf hole is printed on a sheet 39 in any suitable mannerand includes a first continuous line 40 which defines the boundaries ofthe fairway. In order to distinguish the fairway from other portions ofthe course as shown on the map, the area enclosed by the line 40 may becolored a medium green. A second line 42 surrounds the line 40 and thearea between the lines 40 and 42 is considered to be the area of therough on the golf hole. In order to distinguish the rough from thefairway, the area between the lines 40 and 42 may be colored a darkgreen. Any area outside of the line 42 may be considered to be out ofbounds.

A number of continuous lines 44 enclose areas which are sand traps onthe golf hole and may be colored a sand color. Another continuous line46 lies wholly within the line 40 and defines the green on the hole. Inorder to distinguish the green from the fairway and the rough, it mafbecolored a light green. There are also provided a pair of lines 48 and 50which define a water hazard behind the green and the area between thelines 48 and 50 may be colored blue.

The lines 40, 42 and certain of the lines 44 together with other lines52 divide the map into a plurality of zones, some of the zones being inthe fairway, some in the rough and some in certain of the sand traps.Each such zone is given a code number 54 as indicated and at some pointin the zone there is a small circle 56.

There are also provided a plurality of zones on and around the greendefined by the line 46 all of which are within the area defined by adotted line 58 and one of the lines 50 defining the water hazard. Thezones within the dotted line 58 and not on the green defined by the line46 are defined by the line 40, certain of the lines 44 and other lines60. Each such zone has a code number 62 associated therewith.

The green defined by the line 46 is also divided into a plurality ofzones by continuous lines 64, each line having a code number 66associated therewith. In actuality, the lines 64 are drawn in the formof concentric circles about a center zone identified by the code numberA in FIG. 2, the center of which is considered to be the location of thecup on the hole.

As will be apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, the code number62 which represents zones just off of the green correspond to the arrowand indicia combinations 32 that correspond to a particular distancefrom the cup 30 for a particular lie condition. Similarly, the lines 64and associated code numbers 66 correspond to the lines 36 and the codenumbers 38 on the green 22 in the green area 15. The purpose of thecorrespondence will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

A portion of a control panel, generally designated 70, is illustrated inFIG. 3, and, as will be seen, comprises a portion of the plotting tableand control console 20 shown in FIG. 1. The control panel 70 includesfour distinct sets of push buttons which are used to operate switchesthat may control the scene selection of a projector and the lie materialselection of an indexable tee.

Specifically, the first three sets of push buttons 72, 74 and 76,respectively, are used to control the scene projector. The first set ofpush buttons 72 have corresponding indicia from one to eighteen andcorrespond to the hole on the course that the golfer is playing at anygiven instant. Thus, a golfer playing the fifth hole would depress thepush button 72 labeled 5. The second and third sets of push buttons 74and 76 are used to select a given scene on any given hole on the coursein accordance with the zone from which the player is hitting the ball.For example, if the player were hitting the ball from the tee on a golfcourse, he would depress the push button 74 labeled A and the pushbutton 76 labeled 1. Similarly, if he were playing from a zone bearing acode number E7, he would depress the push button 74 labeled E and thepush button 76 labeled 7.

When a plurality of golfers play the game, it will be apparent that theywill generally be playing the same hole simultaneously. Thus, a singleset of the push buttons 72 may be provided while a set of push buttons74 and 76 may be provided for each golfer,

The manner in which the push buttons 72, 74 and 76 may be made tooperate to select a corresponding scene for disposition on the screen 18may be obtained from the aforementioned application of Pratt et al.relating to a projection system, the details of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

The fourth set of push buttons 78 are used to operate the tee 16. Threepush buttons 78 are provided, one being labeled F for fairway, onelabeled R for rough and the last being labeled S for sand. Thus, if agolfer was about to make a shot from the fairway, he would depress thepush button 78 labeled F to cause a fairway simulating mat to bedisposed at the tee 16. Similarly, if the golfer was forced to make asand shot in the tee area 14, he would depress the push button labeled Sto cause a mat that simulated the lie in a sand trap to be disposed atthe tee 16. As in the case of the push buttons 74 and 76, a set of pushbuttons 78 may be provided for each golfer. The manner in which the matsare disposed at the tee 16 in response to manipulation of the pushbutton 78 is disclosed in the aforementioned application of Anderson,the details of which are herein incorporated by reference. i

Of course, in order to permit the golfer to properly manipulate the pushbuttons 74, 76 and 78, the golfer must rst be provided with informationrelative to the zone in which his previous shot terminated and thenature of the lie in that zone. Because of the color coding of the mapof the golf hole mentioned previously, it will be apparent that once agolfer is apprised of the zone in which his previous shot terminated, hewill have no difficulty in properly manipulating the push button 78. Forexample, if the golfers shot came to rest in a zone that was coloreddark green, the golfers would known immediately that the push button 78marked R should be depressed in order to move a mat simulating the liein the rough to the tee 16. Similarly, if the golfers shot terminated ina sand colored zone or a medium green colored zone, he would be informedthat he should manipulate the push buttons 78 to select the sandsimulating mat or the fairway simulating mat, respectively.

Therefore, it will be apparent that it is only necessary to inform thegolfer as to which Zone his previous shot terminated. Specifically, amap spot projector is arranged to project a spot of light to the Zone onthe map in which the previous shot terminated. In order to provide themap spot projector with information relative to the pre- CTI cedingshot, a computer is used. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention,the computer system disclosed in the copending application of Russell etal., Ser. No. 588,922, filed concurrently herewith and assigned to thesame assignee as the instant application is used.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is provided a data acquisition system whichmay be arranged in conjunction with the tee area 14 to detectinformation relative to each shot hit from the tee 1'6. The informationthus acquired by the data acquisition system 80 is then fed to acomputer 82 which utilizes the acquired information to compute theinstantaneous displacement of the golf ball along three mutuallyperpendicular axes at all points in the flight of the ball.

Specically, the computer includes a Z distance determining circuit 84which determines the instantaneous displacement of a ball from the teein a Z direction, which direction is considered to be parallel to ahorizontal straight line extending from the tee 16 to the cup of thehole along which the golfer will generally intend to hit the ball. Thecomputer 82 also includes an X distance determining circuit S6 whichcontinuously computes the instantaneous displacement of the ball in an Xdirection which is considered to be a horizontal direction transverse tothe Z direction. That is to say, the X direction is the right-leftdirection as seen in either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

The computer 82 also includes a Y distance determining circuit `88. TheY distance determining circuit 88 continuously computes theinstantaneous displacement of the ball above the ground with referenceto the horizontal plane defined by the X and Z directions. Of course, atthe end of a flight of a ball, the distance in the Y direction willalways be equal to zero since the ball will be on the ground.

For specific details of the nature of the data acquisition system 80 andthe computer 82, reference may be had to the above cited copendingapplication of Russell et al., the details of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

The circuits 84, 86 and 88 provide output signals which are ultimatelyfed to a ball spot projector, generally designated 90, which projects aspot of light on the screen 18 in a movable manner to simulate thefiight of the ball aS is well known in the art. The ball spot projector90 includes a Z system 92 which controls the size of the spot of thelight on the screen 18 so as to give the illusion of distance in the Zdirection, an X system 94 which moves the spot of light to the right orto the left on the screen 18 in accordance with the initial direction ofthe shot and/or spin, and a Y system 96 which raises or lowers the spoton the screen to provide the golfer with a perceptible indication of theheight that the shot is traveling above the ground at any given point inthe fiight thereof.

The Z system 92 is controlled by a Z servo control circuit 98 which isoperated by the output of the Z circuit 84.

The X and Y systems 94 and 96, respectiively, are operated in a slightlydifferent manner. Specifically, a differential amplifier 100 is arrangedto receive the output of the X circuit 86 and to operate a magneticmodulator and servo amplifier circuit 102, the output of which is fedthrough the normally closed contact 104a of a switch 104 as an input tothe X system 94 of the ball spot projector 90. The X system 94 of theball spot projector 90 also includes a feedback loop which is connectedas an input to the differential amplifier 100 by means of the normallyclosed contact 106a of a switch 1016.

The Y system 96 receives the output of a magnetic vmodulator and servoamplifier circuit 108 which is fed through the normally closed contact110a of a switch 110. The Y system 96 also includes a feedback loopwhich is provided through the normally closed contact 112a of a switch112 as an input to a differential amplifier 114 which provides the inputto the magnetic modulator and servo amplifier circuit 108. The input tothe differential amplifier 114 derived from the computer 482 is provided7 from the Y circuit 88 through the normally closed contact 116:1 of aswitch 116 to the differential amplifier 114.

As a result of the above described construction, throughout the flightof the ball, the computer 82 will provide the ball spot projector 90with control inputs through the control circuitry just described thatwill properly position the projected ball spot on the screen 18 at allpoints during the calculated flight of the ball.

It will be recognized that it is not necessary for scene and lieselection purposes for a golfer to know the location of the ballrelative to the hole at all points during the flight thereof. Rather, itis only necessary to know where the shot terminated. Thus the computer82 includes a circuit 118 that detects when the flight of the ball hasterminated as computed by the computer 82. When the circuit 118 hasdetermined that the flight of the ball has terminated, it will energizea thermal relay 120` which is of the conventional type that willmaintain itself energized for approximately two seconds after itsinitial enerization and then turn itself off. The thermal relay 120serves as an operation for the switches 104, 106, 110, 112 and 116 whichare ganged so as to be operated simultaneously.

A map spot projector that is generally similar to the ball spotprojector 96 includes an X system 122 and a Z system 126. As will beseen, the X system 122 causes movement of a projected spot of light inthe X direction on a map of a hole on a golf course such as the mapillustrated in FIG. 2. That is the system 122 moves the projected spotof light in a right-left direction when referenced to the mapillustrated in FIG. 2.

The Z system 126 causes movement of the spot of light projected by themap spot projector 124 in the Z direction on a map such as thatillustrated in FIG. 2. In other words, the Z system 126 moves theprojected spot of light in the up-down direction as seen in FIG. 2.

The X system 122 includes an input which is connected to the normallyopen contact 104b of the switch 104 and an output for feedback purposeswhich is connected to the normally open contact 106b of the switch 106.The Z system includes an input connected to the normally open contact110b of the switch 110 and a feedback output connected to the normallyopen contact 112b of the switch 112.

When the thermal relay 120 is operated, the switch 104 will be closedthrough its normally open contact 104b to ultimately connect the Xcircuit 86 to the X system 122 of a map spot projector 124 to providethe latter with the information relative to the position of the ball inthe X direction. Simultaneously, the closing of the switch 106 throughits normally open contact 106b will provide the differential amplifierwith feedback from the X system 122 of the map spot projector 124.

The switches and 112 will close through their normally open contacts110b and 112b to disconnect the Y system 96 of the ball spot projector90 and connect the Z system 126 of the map spot projector into thesystem. Of course, some further change need be made because thedifferential amplifier 114 that services the Z system 126 of the mapspot projector 124 is connected to the Y circuit 88 of the computer.Accordingly, the switch 116 is provided and when the thermal relay 120is energized, the switch 116 will be caused to be closed through itsnormally open contact 116b thereby disconnecting the Y circuit 88 as aninput to the differential amplifier 114 and connecting the, Z circuit 84as an input thereto. The thermal relay 120 will then maintain thecircuit in the just described condition for approximately two secondswhich permits the X system 122 and the Z system 126 of the map spotprojector 124 to fully respond to the outputs of the computer 82 whichwill remain constant because the ball is no longer moving. At the end ofthe two second interval, the thermal relay 120 will automatically turnitself off and reconnect the ball spot projector 96 in readiness for asubsequent computer cycle on another shot.

The just described arrangement permits the double use of thedifferential amplifiers 100 and 114 and the magnetic modulators andservo amplifiers 102 and 108'in controlling both the ball spot projector90 and the map spot projector 124 thereby providing a substantialreduction in the number of parts required for the use of bothprojectors. Of course, if desired, a separate set of differentialamplifiers and magnetic modulators and servo amplifiers could be usedfor the map spot projector.

The manner in which the inputs from the computer 82 to the map spotprojector 124 are utilized to control the position of a projected spotof light is illustrated schematically in FIG. 5. A light source 130 isassociated with one end of an elongated tube 132 which may be providedwith a suitable optical mask and lens system so as to direct a beam oflight toward a movably mounted mirror 134. The mirror 134 may be pivotedabout one axis to move the position of the projected spot of light inthe Z direction, i.e. parallel to the intended line of flight. In orderto pivot the mirror134 so as to move the spot in the Z direction, aservo motor 136 is provided. A potentiometer 138 is associated with theoutput shaft of the servo motor 136 to be positioned responsive theretoand provide the feedback mentioned earlier.

The mirror 134 is also pivotally mounted for movement about a secondaxis transverse to the first axis so as to cause movement of theprojected spot in the X direction, i.e. the right-left direction asviewed in FIG. 2. In order to move the mirror 134 about the second axis,there is provided a servo motor 140 which has a potentiometer 142associated with its output shaft for feedback purposes.

The specific mechanical construction of the map spot projector 124 isdisclosed in the copending application of Baldwin et al., Ser. No.588,813, filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the same assigneeas the instant application. The projector mechanism disclosed in theBaldwin et al. application controls the projected spot in three ways.Two of the control parameters relate to the moving of the spot along twomutually perpendicular axes so that the projected spot may be locatedatany position on a two dimensional spot receiving surface. The thirdcontrol feature involves a regulation of the size of the projected spot.

As the map spot projector 124 only requires movement of the projectedspot along two mutually perpendicular axes, the system used forcontrolling the size of the projected spot may be omitted.

The manner in which the map spot projector 124 is utilized will now bedescribed. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, a suitable overhead support,generally designated is secured to the ceiling of the room 10 housingthe indoor golf game. The plotting table and control console 20 islocated below the overhead support 150.

The map spot projector 124 is supported by the overhead support 150 insuch a manner that the mirror 134 thereof will project the spot of lightdownwardly toward the upper surface of the plotting table and controlconsole 20. Additionally, the overhead support 150 mounts a referencespot projector 152 which projects a fixed spot of light downwardly.

The console and table construction 20 is divided into a first portionmounting the control panel 70 and a table golf hole map is mounted formovement along the longitudinal axis of the dove-tailed slot 160.

The golf hole map is additionally mounted for movement relative to themap supporting member 162 about a vertical axis coinciding with thecenter of the zone labeled A as seen in FIG. 2. That is to say, the mapis mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis conciding with thelocation of the cup in the putting green on the map.

Since as mentioned previously, it is desirable to be able to use aplurality of the maps so that a golfer may complete eighteen holes ormore, it is preferable that the mounting of the map on the mapsupporting member 162 be such as to permit pivotal movement about theaxis described above and, additionally, be a releasable connection tofacilitate ready interchanging of the maps as the golfer proceeds fromhole to hole. Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, one form of a suitableconnection will be described.

Near one end of the map supporting member 162 there is provided afrustoconical recess 164 that has its lower base terminating in ahemispherical recess 166. The underside of the sheet 39 on which the mapis printed includes a frustoconical projection 168 which mounts at itslower base a hemispherical projection 170. The hemispherical projection170 is formed of a magnetic material.

Referring specifically to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the frustoconicalrecess 164 is formed directly in the map supporting member 162 while thehemispherical recess 166 is formed in a magnet 172 which is supported bythe map supporting member 162 as an integral part thereof.

Dimensions of the recesses and projections are arranged so that theprojections will nest in the recesses and may be rotated therein aboutthe aforementioned vertical axis which coincides with the location ofthe cup on the map. Thus, the connection provides for the requisitepivotal movement. The fabrication of the hemispherical projection 170 ofa magnetic material and the use of a magnet 172 in providing thehemispherical recess provides a magnetic connection which may be brokensimply by lifting up upon the sheet 39 on which the map is printed.

Returning to FIGS. 6 and 7, the arrangement of the map and its varioussupporting elements to the map spot projector 124 and the reference spotprojector 152 will be described. The map spot projector 124 is arranged,so that when the mirror 134 thereof is moved solely by the motor 136 toprovide Z directional spot movement, the locus of points on which theprojected spot will fall will define a straight line within the continesof the slot 160. The reference spot projector 152, which may comprise aconventional slide projector arranged with an optical mask having anaperture of a size so as to project a suitably sized spot, is arrangedto project its spot to a point on the line just mentioned. Additionally,the connection between the map supporting member 162 and the sheet l39is arranged such that the vertical axis about lwhich the sheet 39 mayrotate relative to the map supporting member 162 will always lie on theline. The slot 160 is arranged on the table 156 so that movement of themap supporting member 162 will always be in a direction parallel to theline.

Additionally, the map spot projector is arranged with respect to thereference spot projector 152 so that their A respective projected spotswill coincide when the X system 126 of the map spot projector 124 areprovided with data from the computer 82 that corresponds to a zerodisplacement in the X direction and a zero displacement in the Zdirection.

Finally, the golf hole` map and the sheet 39 is scaled in accordancewith the degree of movement of the projected spot by the map spotprojector 124 in response to a given distance representing output of thecomputer 82. That is to say, if the computer 82 will cause the map spotprojector 124 to move a spot two inches in the Z direction for 10 a onehundred yard shot, then the map is scaled so that two inches thereoncorresponds to one hundred yards on the hole. It is to be noted that thesame scale is to be used for each of the maps as the only actualcooperation between the computer and the map is the movement of theprojected spot along the latter by the former.

In actuality, the scaling of the map may be limited by such factors asthe room available for the table 156, the maximum size in which a .mapmay be made and Still be easily manipulated by a golfer, etc. In such acase, the reverse of the above described system for scaling the map isutilized. Rather, the vmap scale is chosen and the drive arrangementsfor the mirror 134 of the map spot projector 124 are modifiedaccordingly. When a projector such as that disclosed in the above citedapplication of Baldwin etal. is used, the projector may be made to movethe spot in accordance with the scale of the map by appropriatelyselecting the rise of thel cams used in the drive system for the mirror.i

As a result of the just described orientation, it will be apparent thatthe spot of light projected by the spot projector 124 will always move.through the point defining the cup on the map of the golf hole when thespot projector 124 has its mirror 134 moved solely by the motor 136 nomatter what the position of the sheet 39 relative to the map supportingmember 162 or the position of the latter within the slot 160.

The manner in which the system is operated will now be described.Assuming that the golfer is about to make his tee shot on the first holeof a course, he will manipulate the push button 72 designated 1 toindicate to the projector that it should select a sce-ne from the groupof scences pertinent to the first hole. A golfer will also line up thereference spot projected by the. reference spot projector 152 so that itfalls upon the small circle 56 associated with the tee area on the mapon the first hole. If it be assumed that the map shown in FIG. 2represents the map of the first hole, the golfer will cause the spotprojected by the reference spot projector 152 to fall on the smallcircle 56 associated with the zone designated A1, A golfer will alsomanipulate the push buttons 74 and 76 by depressing the push button 74designated A and the push button 76 designated 1 to enable the sceneprojector to project a scene on the screen that represents the view fromthe point of the small circle in the zone A1 on the first hole. Thescene projector will respond in the manner described in the above citedPratt et al. application to display the scene A1 for the first holewhich is taken to correspond to the View from the tee of the first holeon the golf course.

The golfer will also depress the push button 78 designated F in that atee shot is always hit from a fairwaylike lie so as to dispose theproper lie material at the tee 16 in the manne-r described in theaforementioned application of Anderson et al. He may then proceed to hithis shot, and as a result, the computer 82 will undergo a cycle therebyoperating the ball spot projector 96 to project a spot of light on thescreen 18 in a manner that simulates the iiight of the ball ascalculated by the computer 82. When the latter determines that theflight has ended, it will switch its outputs from the ball spotprojector 96 to the map spot projector 124 which will respond by movingits projected spot of light to the point of termination of the shot.

If it be assumed tthat the point of termination of the shot as indicatedby the spot of light projected by the map spot projector 124 lies in thezone D2 as seen in FIG. 2, the golfer will then depress the push button74 marked D and the push button 76 marked 2 to cause the projector todisplay a scene taken to correspond to the view from the zone D2 on thefirst hole of the golf course. Because of the color coding of the map,thel golfer will observe that the zone D2 lies in the rough, andaccordingly, the golfer will then manipulate the push button 78designated R to cause a lie material simulating the rough to 1 1 bedisposed at the tee 16. The golfer will then move the sheet 39 bearingthe map relative to the table 156 and the map supporting member 162 sothat the reference spot projector will project its spot 152 downwardlyonto the small circle 56 associated with the zone D2 as indicated inFIG. 2. The golfer may then hit his second shot.

The computer `82 will then cycle accordingly and let us assume that itultimately moves the spot projected by the map spot projector 124 to apoint lying in the zone designated 129. The golfer will then manipulatethe push buttons 74 and 76 so as to cause the scene projected to displaya scene representative of the view from the zone F9 in the mannergenerally described earlier. Additionally, the golfer will observe thatthe zone F9 lies within a sand trap and he will manipulate the pushbutton 78 designated S so as to cause a sand trap simulating mat to bedisposed at the tee 16. Finally, he will reorient the -map so that thereference spot projector 152 will project its spot on the small circle56 in the center of the zone F9 and then proceed to take his third shoton the hole.

The computer will again cycle and let us assume at this point it causesthe map spot projector 124 to project its spot onto the zone labeled Hin FIG. 2. The golfer will observe that since the spot is within thearea defined by the dotted line 58 and the line 50, further shots do notrequire the use of the computer. Accordingly, the golfer will then pickup a golf ball and proceed to the green area 16 to place the ball on themat 28 bearing an' arrow and indicia combination 32 that corresponds tothe zone adjacent the green at which the preceding shot terminated asillustrated by the position of the projected spot of the map spotprojector 124. The golfer will then proceed to hole out the ball in thecup 30 in the customary manner.

Had the shot from the zone F9 not fallen short of the green but fallenwithin one of the zones defined by the concentric circles 64, the golferwould proceed to the line 36 on the green 22 `bearing the marker 38 thatcorresponded to the indicia 66 associated with the zone on the green inwhich the ball spot projector 124 indicated that the shot terminated.For example, if the map spot projector 124 indicated that the shotterminated in the zone labeled C as seen in FIG. 2, the golfer wouldthen place his ball on the line 36 marked C.

The just described system is also particularly well suited for handlinga plurality of players. The system is constructed so that when aplurality of golfers are playing the game, one golfer may be shootingwhile another golfer may be orienting the map for a shot just completedand observing the indication of the point of termination so that he mayoperate the projector and the tee in readiness for his next shot so asto save time.

Specifically, it will be appreciated that once the thermal relay 120relaxes after its initial energzation which connects the map spotprojector 124 to the computer 82, the map spot projector 124 will remainin the condition called for by the computer 82 even though it isdisconnected therefrom until the thermal relay 120 is again energizedfollowing a computer cycle for a succeeding shot. Thus, the map spotprojector 124 serves to memorize the point of termination of thepreceding shot until it is again energized for the succeeding shot whichwill occur only when the iiight of the succeeding shot has terminated.

Accordingly, a golfer may take a shot and thereafter, while thesubsequent golfer is getting ready to shoot, orient the map in themanner described previously and observe the codes that are pertainent toa succeeding shot. In other words, rather than orienting the map, takinga shot and then observing the map, the golfer may take a shot and thensubstantially simultaneously orient the map and observe the point oftermination of the shot while another golfer is shooting.

As an additional time saving feature, golfers other than the one makingthe shot may perform the map orienting and the projector and teeprogramming for the golfer who is making the shot.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent how the computer 82 operates inconjunction with the map spot projector 124 and a map of a golf hole toprovide the golfer with information necessary to operate other equipmentappropriately and to designate the areas around the green area 15 wherethe ball should be placed when the golfer has hit the ball from a pointin close proximity to the green. It Will be appreciated that therelative simplicity of the system provides for a complete golf gamesystem that may be easily operated by a golfer and makes use of thegolfer to provide certain functions such as scene selection, lie4material selection, etc., to render the system economically practicablefor present commercial exploitation.

Having described specific embodiments of our invention for exemplarypurposes, we do not wish to be limited to the specific details setforth, but rather, to have our invention construed according to thefollowing claims.

We claim:

1. In an indoor golf game having a scene projector, a screen forreceiving any one of a plurality of scenes projected by the projector, atee spaced from said screen from which a golfer may drive balls towardsaid screen, data acquisition means for obtaining data relative to theprobable Hight trajectory of a ball so driven, a computer for using saiddata to compute the theoretical free flight trajectory of a ball hitfrom said tee, and means for displaying the trajectory to a golfer, theimprovement comprising: means providing a map of a hole on a golfcourse, means dividing the area on said map into a plurality of discretezones, means providing a unique code number for each zone, meansresponsive to said computer for indicating on said map the zone in whicha shot terminated, and manually operable control means for saidprojector for causing said projector to display a selected one of saidplurality of scenes on said screen, each said scene corresponding to theview of the golf hole as seen from a corresponding one of said zones,said control means being provided with unique indicia corresponding tosaid code numbers whereby a golfer may use said control means to selectthe proper scene for projection on said screen in readiness for asubsequent shot by observing the point of termination of the precedingshot as indicated by said indicating means.

2. The indoor golf game of claim 1 further including means defining agreen area located adjacent said tee on which a golfer may hole out inthe customary manner; means for dividing said green area into aplurality of discrete zones, unique indicia associated with each of saidgreen area zones; some of said code numbers on said map corresponding tosaid unique indicia assocoiated with said green area zones whereby saidindicating means will apprise a golfer of the green area zone in whichhe should place his ball prior to holing out.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said tee includes a means forpresenting any one of a plurality of lies in readiness for a golfer tohit a ball therefrom; manually operable control means for saidpresenting means, code means associated with some of said map zones toindicate to a golfer the lie in an associated zone; and indiciaassociated with said presenting means control means corresponding tosaid code means whereby a golfer may use said presenting means controlmeans to select a lie in readiness for a succeeding shot by observingthe zone encompassing the point of termination of the preceding shot asindicated by said indicating means.

4. A golf game computing system comprising:

(a) means defining a tee area from which a golf ball may be hit;

(b) means providing a scene of a hole on a golf course;

(c) means providing a map of said hole on a golf course;

l(d) means for sensing the flight characteristics of a golf ball struckfrom the tee;

(e) computing means responsive to said sensing means for computing thetheoretical free flight trajectory of the golf ball;

(f) first projecting means connected to said computing means for movinga spot of light on the scene to provide a visual simulation of saidtheoretical flight trajectory;

(g) second projecting means adapted to be connected to said computingmeans for projecting a spot of light on the map to indicate the computedpoint of termination of the flight of the golf ball; and

(h) means for determining when the computed flight of the ball hasterminated and for disconnecting said first projecting means from saidcomputing means and connecting said second projecting means to saidcomputing means. i

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said last-named means includes meansfor reconnecting said first projecting means to said computing means anddisconnecting said second projecting means from said computing meansafter a predetermined time period has elapsed.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said computing means includes afirst circuit for determining the" distance a ball would travel in a-first horizontal direction coinciding with an intended line of flight,a second circuit for determining the distance of a ball in a secondhorizontal direction transverse to said first direction and a thirdcircuit for determining the distance in a third direction normal to bothsaid first and second directions; said first projecting means includingfirst, secondand third systems connected respectively to said first,second and third circuits; said second projecting means including firstand second means connectable respectively to said first and secondcircuits; and said last-named means including a plurality of gangedswitches for substantially simultaneously disconnecting said first,second and third`systerns from said first, second and third circuits andconnecting said first and second means to said first and secondcircuits, and operator means for said switches for maintaining theconnection of said first and second means to said first and secondcircuits for a time period of a length sufficient to enable said firstand second means to respond to the conditions of said first and secondcircuits and thereafter reconnecting said first, second and thirdsystems to said first, second and third circuits.

7. In a method of playing an indoor golf game having a tee from whichballs may be hit towards a screen, a projector for projecting any one ofa plurality of scenes depicting various views of a golf hole fromvarious zones of the golf hole on the screen, manually operable sceneselecting means for programming the projector and having coded indiciafor scene from a given zone and for thereafter causing the projector todisplay a selected scene on the screen, a computer for comput ing thetheoretical free flight trajectory of a golf ball hit from the tee, amap of the golf hole being played that is divided into a plurality ofzones corresponding to the zones which said scenes represent with eachmap zone having a code number corresponding to the code indicia of thescene selecting means, and an indicator responsive to the computer forindicating the zone on the map where a shot terminated, the steps of:

(a) hitting a golf ball from said tee toward said screen;

(b) observing on the map the code number of the zone encompassing theindicated point of termination of the shot; and

(c) manually operating the scene selecting means to register the mapcode number thereon to thereby cause the projector to dispose the scenedepicting the view from the zone on the golf hole corresponding to thezone identified by the map code 1 14 number on the screen in readinessfor a subsequent shot.

8. A method for playing a golf game according to claim 7 wherein thegolf game further includes an actual green area having a cup and dividedinto a plurality of zones each being uniquely marked and the mapillustrates a green area divided into a plurality of zones havingcorresponding unique markings, the additional steps comprising:repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) until a point of termination of a shotin said map green area is observed; observing the marking associatedwith the zone of the map green area in which the point of termination isindicated; proceeding to said actual green area; placing a golf ballinthe actual green area zone having a marking corresponding to the markingof the map green area zone encompassing the point of termination, andstroking the golf ball until it lodges in the cup.

9. In a golf game, the combination of: data acquisition means foracquiring data relative to the trajectory of a ball hit from a tee;computation means responsive to said data acquisition means forcomputing, from said data, the theoretical free flight trajectory of theball; means providing a map of a golf hole; indicating means forindicating on the map of a golf hole the theoretical point oftermination of the flight of the ball; and means interconnecting saidcomputation means and said indicating l means for causing saidindicating means to indicate said point in response to said computationmeans and for maintaining said indicating means indicating said pointuntil said computation means is operated for a succeeding ball flightwhereby said indicating means serves to memorize the computed point oftermination of a ball flight until the succeeding ball flight.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said interconnecting meanscomprises means operative when said computation means determines that aball flight has ended for connecting said indicating means to saidcomputation means for a period of time sufficient to allow theindicating means to respond to the computation means and for thereafterdisconnecting said indicating means from said computation means untilsaid computation means determines that a subsequent ball flight hasterminated.

11. In an indoor golf game the combination comprising: a screen forreceiving the projected image for any one of a plurality of scenesdepicting the view from various locations on a golf hole; sceneprojection means for projecting images on said screen, said sceneprojection means including a plurality of scenes each depicting the viewfrom a different predetermined point on a golf hole, and manuallyoperable control means for operating said scene projecting means todisplay a selected one of the plurality of scenes on said screen; a teespaced from said screen from which a golfer may drive golf balls towardsaid screen; data acquisition means for obtaining data relative to theprobable flight trajectory of a ball so driven; cornputer means forreceiving and using said data to cornpute the theoretical free flighttrajectory of a ball hit from said tee; means responsive to saidcomputer means for displaying the theoretical free flight trajectory onthe scene projected on the screen to a golfer; means providing a map ofsaid golf hole; means dividing the area on said map into a plurality ofdiscrete zones with each said zone encompassing one of the differentpoints on the golf hole, the view from which is depicted by acorresponding one of said plurality of scenes; means providing a uniquecode number for each of said zones; means responsive to said computermeans for indicating on said map the zone in which a shot would haveterminated according to the computed theoretical free flight trajectoryof the shot; said manually operable control means for said sceneprojection means further including unique indicia corresponding to saidcode numbers whereby a golfer may use said control means to select theproper scene for projection on said screen in readiness for a subsequentshot by observing the code number of the zone on said map wherein thecomputed point of termination of the preceding shot is indicated by saidindicating means.

12. An indoor golf game comprising:

(a) a tee area from which golf balls may be hit;

(b) a screen located forwardly of said tee and adapted to receiveindicia depicting any one of a plurality of scenes of a golf hole;

(c) means providing indicia depicting a map of said golf hole;

(d) means for sensing the flight characteristics of a golf ball struckfrom the tee towards said screen and providing informationrelativethereto;

(e) computing means responsive to said sensing means for receiving theinformation therefrom and for computing the theoretical free flighttrajectory of the golf ball hit from the tee;

(f) spot projecting means responsive to said com puting means (1) formoving a spot of light on said screen and thus on the one of saidplurality of scenes of a golf hole on the screen to provide a visualsimulation of the computed theoretical free ight trajectory and (2) forprojecting a spot of light on the map of a golf hole to indicate thepoint of termination of the computed theoretical free flight trajectoryof the golf ball on the map; and

(g) means responsive to said computing means when the latter hasdetermined that the theoretical free ilight of the ball has terminatedfor thereafter causing said spot projecting means to indicate said pointof termination on the map.

13. An indoor golf game according to claim 12 wherein said spotprojecting means comprises a irst spot projector for moving a spot oflight on the screen, and a second spot projector for projecting a spotof light on the map; and said means responsive to said computing meanscomprises switch means for alternately connecting said first and secondspot projectors to said computing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS :6/ 1930 Strasser.

6/ 193 8 Vaughan.

1/ 1952 Williams.

3/ 1957 Simjian.

FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1965 Canada.

